Infighting will threaten F1's future

Much as the turnaround in fortunes this year between the teams and drivers has re-energised interest in F1, there is a danger that the infighting will damage the sport. I would imagine the teams’ FOTA meeting last week was frosty, with Flavio Briatore trying to stop Brawn GP getting the television rights money owed to the former Honda structure and which must be pivotal to the championship leader’s business model. Also, teams such as Force India and Williams will be ready to embrace the proposed new capped budgets whereas manufacturers will be opposed.

More worryingly we keep having new regulations announced and ratified, for example “most race wins takes all” to decide the world champion and various budget cap numbers and conditions, only for them to be revised or cancelled. It is confusing everybody, not least the fans and, crucially, the sponsors. Confused customers don’t buy.

This should all be discussed behind closed doors and not leaked. Furthermore there is too much bitterness and settling of old scores going on between various factions rather than consideration for what would be best for the sport. Much as I’m fascinated by some of the extreme characters in F1, this has now gone beyond a soap opera. It is damaging the core product. I can only assume that it might be intentional by some.

Central to the arguments are how the sport is going to control costs — and there’s no question it needs to. In the past I have found myself talking proudly about the sums of money involved. I’d tell people that teams were spending $400m per year. The frequent response would be “that’s an incredible amount for 20 cars” and I would have to say “actually that’s just for two ”. To be fair, most of the teams have still made a small profit even on these stratospheric budgets but in today’s climate they are indefensible. But there has to be a balance because of the global nature and scale of F1.

These cars are exquisite, bespoke, pieces of mechanical jewellery, and that’s the unique selling point of F1 over all the other formulas. They have to be extremely special, as do the teams that operate them. They mustn’t be dumbed down.

I’m expecting a very powerful statement from Ferrari about their future in F1 depending upon the 2010 proposed regulations. The debate this week has been whether F1 needs Ferrari. It’s a big question with a small and simple answer. Yes. In fact, they need each other.

That’s why at some point in former battles, Ferrari have been granted preferential commercial terms and even, incredibly, a golden veto on some regulatory issues. This was all secret until recently. Worryingly Toyota, BMW and others could follow them out of the paddock.

The FIA is proposing a cost cap of £40m plus engines, drivers, and marketing. This will be policed by appointed forensic accountants who can audit and give advice on budget costs and interpretations. The ultimate penalty for circumnavigating this cap would presumably be exclusion.

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